Sunday, 20 March 2016

Hot off the press from the Historical Society of Ottawa (HSO) is the latest in their Bytown Pamphlet Series—From Steamboats to the NHL: The Ottawa Valley’s Cowley Family (no. 98, 5.5”x 8.5”,
soft cover, 68 pp, includes a personal name index).

Researched and written by Christine Jackson, a long-time family historian and active member of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa and HSO, this booklet traces the early Ottawa Valley history of the entrepreneurial and pioneering riverboat captain, Captain Daniel Keyworth Cowley—or “Captain Dan” as he was to become known—and his descendants.

Christine reveals Captain Dan’s connection with Champlain’s iconic lost astrolabe as well as his family’s role in the Ottawa Valley’s history and economic development, including their surprising and great contribution to Canada’s national winter game. Also included is an account of the Cowley family’s origins in England, reaching back into 16th century Derbyshire.

The HSO publishes several of these popular research papers on aspects of the history of Ottawa and region each year. They are a benefit of membership for HSO members and are available to the public for a small fee. Back issues on a huge range of topics are listed on HSO’s website at http://hsottawa.ncf.ca/pamphlets.html and may be consulted at the Ottawa Public Library’s Main (Ottawa Room) and some other branches, the Ottawa City Archives and in the Ottawa Resource Room of Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library.

To order this pamphlet ($5) or any of the others in the series back to 1981, contact George Neville at 613-729-0579 or george.neville at ncf dot ca